Smart-Pampanga Buddies finally taste championship gold

FINAL LIGA PILIPINAS TOUR STANDINGS (W-L)

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos (16-0) – 60 points

Smart-Pampanga Buddies (10-6) – 36

Quezon Red Oilers (9-7) – 35

Misamis Oriental Meteors (10-6) – 33

Forward Taguig (10-6) – 32

Trace-Laguna Stallions (8-8) – 26

Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue (8-8) – 15

MP Warriors of GenSan (3-13) – 8

Zamboanga Uno Latinos (1-15) - 6



Game Wednesday (November 11) – Quezon Convention Center

4:00 PM Quezon Red Oilers vs. MP Warriors of GenSan



LUNA, APAYAO – After a trio of runner-up finishes, the Smart-Pampanga Buddies finally tasted championship gold by blasting the host EKB-Apayao Rapids, 95-81, to claim the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Apayao Leg title in front of a capacity Bienvenido G. Verzola Jr. Memorial Sports Center last Saturday evening.



More importantly, the win catapulted the Buddies under Coach Allan Gregorio all the way to Second Place in the overall Liga Tour Standing with 36 points, gaining the second outright spot in the Super Leg that will determine the next National Champion. Already qualified are the undefeated top seed and leg host M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos. The Super Leg is scheduled from November 22 to 29 and is backed by Smart, Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington, with the sanction of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).



With a shaky 11-point lead after three periods, 69-58, the Buddies turned to brothers Alwin and Anthony Espiritu, Allan Husted and Edwin Asoro to stage a breakaway, ballooning the lead to as high as 17 markers, 85-68 and 3:57 remaining.



The Rapids tasted the lead for the last time, 29-28, on a second period triple by Kris Robles. Hans Thiele then came off the bench in the second period to score 11 points that restored the advantage to the Buddies and build a comfortable halftime cushion, 45-38.



Thiele finished with a total of 17 points followed by Jonathan Aldave with 16 as the Buddies duplicated their 83-78 beating of the Rapids last November 4. Ismael Junio paced the Rapids with 14 points, but had only a free throw to show in the second half. Chris Santos chipped in 12 markers.



Apayao Governor Elias K. Bulut awarded the championship trophy to the winners, including leg Most Valuable Player Aldave. In between games, a pair of skills contests was held sponsored by Mayor Leah C. Bulut-Begtang of Calanasan town. Junio and Rapids reserve June Dizon emerged as the winners of the three-point shootout and slam dunk contest respectively.



Meanwhile, the Trace-Laguna Stallions earned Third Place over Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue, 89-79. The win snapped the Stallions’ three-game losing skid and awarded them three tour points to finish in Sixth Place overall. They will meet Fifth Placer Forward Taguig in the Super Leg wild card round. The Landmaster squad ended up in Seventh Place and will travel to face the Fourth Place and defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors. The other playoff fixture will pit the Third Place Quezon Red Oilers against the Eighth Place MP Warriors of GenSan.



RB Mangahas led the Stallions with 16 points followed by Alex Angeles with 14. Francis Mercado topped Mandaue with 17 markers while Jett Latonio and JR Aquino chipped in a dozen each.



The best games of the Apayao Leg will be televised next week on Solar Sports from Wednesday to Saturday. Liga Pilipinas Classics are shown daily on Viva Prime Channel. For more details, log on to www.ligapilipinas.net.



How They Scored:



For Third Place



LAGUNA (89) – Mangahas 16, Angeles 14, Sanz 11, Anquilo 10, Villaver 10, Musni 9, Grijaldo 7, Estrada 5, Tolentino 3, Medina 2, Capati 2, Pradas 0.



MANDAUE (79) – Mercado 17, Latonio 12, Aquino 12, Bautista 10, Berame 9, Cainglet 8, Gabas 6, Cenita 3, Bucao 2.



Period Scores: 29-18, 50-37, 70-58, 89-79.



Championship



PAMPANGA (95) – Thiele 17, Aldave 16, Husted 13, Magpayo 8, Taylor 8, Asoro 8, Al. Espiritu 8, An. Espiritu 8, Gelig 5, Villamin 4, Nicdao 0, Saguindel 0, Sta. Maria 0, Tan 0.



APAYAO (81) – Junio 14, Santos 12, Cruz 11, Lopez 10, Robles 9, Yambao 7, Ebuen 7, Vitug 4, Navarro 3, Bonus 2, Villareal 2, Lustestica 0.



Period Scores: 21-20, 45-38, 69-58, 95-81.